Pipe-wrench.



-G. C. MARTIN.

. PIPE WRENCH. APPLICATION FILED 1111.27, 1913.

Patented June 15, 1915.

THE NORRIS PETERS 60., PHOTO-LITHOY. WASHINGTON, D C

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GEORGE C. MARTIN, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR TO S. A. GUIBERSON, JB., OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

PIPE-WRENCH.

Application filed January 27, 1913.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Gnonen C. MARTIN, citizen of the United States, residing at Los Angeles, in the county of Los Angeles and State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Pipe- VVrenches, of which the following is a specific ation.

This invention relates to improvements in pipe wrenches, and particularly to that class of wrenches that are adapted for turning large piping, casings and cylindrical couplings, such as are commonly employed in connection with well boring apparatus, and well working machinery.

It is an object of the invention to provide a pipe wrench with a flexible aw portion so connected as to articulate readily when applied to the contour of a pipe or coupling, and also to provide the said wrench with a stiff and unyielding jaw which will prevent the flexible jaw from tending to crush or crumple a pipe.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a pipe wrench having one side thereof flexible and provided with a lever adapted to draw the said flexible side'toward the other side of the wrench.

In the accompanying drawing forming part of this specification, Figure 1 is a per- I spective view of a pipe wrench constructed in accordance with the present invention. Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view taken through a pipe and showing a modified form of pipe wrench applied thereto in elevation.

In handling large piping and casings commonly employed in connection with well working operations, pipe wrenches of large size and strong proportions are required, particularly as in turning pipe, tubing and casing into and out of place in a well, tremendous power must be exerted upon the wrench, especially when screw threads become rusty as is usually the case with such piping or tubing, and with the couplings employed therewith. It is quite common to secure a heavy weight to the handle of such a wrench for drawing it in one direction and to attach it to a steam engine in such a way that the engine will draw the handle in the other direction for turning a pipe or casing. I am aware that pipe wrenches have been employed with a pair of stifi jaws, but it is usually difficult to make them articulate readily in applying them to surfaces of pip- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 15, 1915.

Serial No. 744,497.

ing and easing. I am aware also that it has been attempted to use the ordinary chain wrenches which can be used with small pipes, but in employing such wrenches on large pipes and well casings, they are found to crumple and crush the casings or tubes.

In the present invention, a wrench is provided in which a stiff jaw of suitable strength is used, which extends approximately half way around a pipe or tube, while linked or otherwise flexibly secured thereto is a jaw or band which is capable of conforming to the shape of the tubing or casing to which it is to be applied. The flexibility of said latter jaw or band may be secured by the yielding qualities of the flexible band itself or by its linked connection with the operating lever or by one or more links at intermediate points, as in a chain.

The invention will now be more specifically described, reference being had to the accompanying drawing in which 1 indicates a stiff jaw, 2 a flexible jaw, and 3 a handle or lever for operating the jaws. The said stiff jaw 1 is made of ample cross-sectional area to aflord a maximum of strength for all usage to which the wrench will be placed. At one end of the stiff jaw 1, links 4: are pivotally applied, a pivot pin 5 being passed through the said links and the end of the jaw for this purpose. The adjacent end of the flexible jaw 2 is enlarged and perforated so that a second pivot pin 6 may be passed through it and the adjacent ends of the links 1, as clearly shown in Fig. 1. It will be understood that any other style of hinge joint desired may be interposed between the flexible jaw and the stiff jaw. The opposite end of the stiff jaw is formed with an outturned portion 7, having an outwardly extending projection 8 thereon which is perforated and adapted to receive the pivot pin 9 of the handle or lever 3. The said lever is bifurcated so as to receive and fit over the projection 8 of the jaw. The bifurcated portion of the lever also projects inwardly and is connected by means of links 10 and a pivot pin 11 with the adjacent end of the flexible jaw 2. Said adjacent end of the jaw 2 is enlarged and perforated so that it may be connected by means of a pin 12 with the links 10. By this structure, the jaws may be caused to contract or expand by the movement of the lever 3.

The offset portion 13 formed by the outwardly extending part 7 of the stiff jaw afl'ords ample space for accommodating the links 10 when the pipe Wrench is tightened upon a pipe or casing. The grip of the wrench upon a pipe or casing may also be further insured by placing angular pieces of steel .as 14: in correspondingly shaped recesses 15 formed in the inner surface of the stiff jaw. Material square in cross section is usually employed for forming the pieces 14 and one of their edges is allowed to project from the recesses 15 sufliciently beyond the inner surface of the stifl jaw 1 to bite the surface of a tube or casing when the wrench is tightened. An adjustable screw 16 limits the movement of the lever upon releasing the grip of the wrench.

While the flexible member, as above described,and as shown in Fig. 1 is set forth as a plainband of moreor less flexible metal, it will be evident that the flexible side of the pipe wrench may be modified within the spirit of the invention. Thus, as shown in Fig. 2, a pipe wrench of this character may be provided with a stiff jaw 20 andwith a rigid side made up of a chain 21. The fleX- ible jaw is also provided with a lever carry- 'lng projection 22, upon which a lever 23 is fulcrumed by means of a pin 24. The inner end of the lever is pivotally connected with the chain 21 while the other end of the chain is pivotally connected with the end of the stiff .j aw 2-0 which is adjacent thereto.

The operation of either form of wrench will be readily evident from the above description, and by reference to the drawing. When the lever 3 is moved to the position shown in Fig. 1, the wrench will be loose upon the piping or casing. When the lever Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the is forced in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 1, the jawsof the wrench will be brought tightly together upon such pipe or casing, and be capable of turning the same.

It will be observed that when the flexibility of the flexible jaw is attained by the employment of one or more links, that it is immaterial whether the j aws are of yielding material or not.

WVhat is claimed is:

1. A pipe wrench having a jaw, a lever fulcrumed on said jaw,- a complementary jaw, a link pivotally connecting the said jaws, a link pivotally connecting the lever with the said complementary jaw and a stop projecting from the first mentioned jaw into the path of said lever for preventing the jaws from opening too wide when taking a new hold upon the article, to be turned.

2. A pipe wrench having an integral nonyielding jaw and an integral yielding jaw, articulating means interposed between said jaws and a lever for drawing the jaws toward each other.

3. A pipe wrench having a single piece non-yielding jaw, a single piece. yielding jaw, a member connecting said jaws and pivotally connected with each, a lever fulcrumed upon one end of the non-yielding jaw and a link member pivoted at one end to the lever and at the other end to the yielding jaw whereby the said lever may positively open or close the said jaws.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, in presence of two witnesses.

' GEO. G. MARTIN.

Witnesses:

CASSELL SEVERANCE, J AMES E. KERRY.

Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G. 

